Clutter Busting

Is Your Bedroom Clutter Contributing to Your Weight?

March 7, 2008 by clutterbusting 1 Comment

Again, as mentioned in a previous post, the October 2007 issue of First magazine discussed the relationship of clutter to excess weight.

We know that clutter can weigh us down mentally. But how does bedroom clutter relate to weight gain? Excess stuff in your bedroom or near your bed can stimulate brain-waves that cause wakefulness. These brain-wave shifts can cause all-day fatigue, but, more so, they can trigger damaging hormonal changes. A connection has been made between not having enough sleep and eating more throughout the day. Eating more calories than your body needs leads to weight gain.

So is the clutter in your bedroom adding to your excess weight? Spend 15 minutes in the next 24-hours removing or putting away clutter from your bedroom. See what happens.

Is Your Kitchen Clutter Contributing to Your Excess Weight?

March 5, 2008 by clutterbusting Leave a Comment

In a recent post I mentioned that two kinds of household clutter can be related to excess weight. One type is kitchen clutter. The relationship between a chaotic kitchen and overeating has been sited in recent research.

In her book Fit to Live (Rodale, 2007) Pamela Peeke, M.D., addresses the connection between kitchen clutter and weight. Kitchen chaos is an environmental stressor and can trigger spikes in appetite in the place where food is most accessible.

Kitchen clutter can cause a release of the stress hormone, cortisol. Cortisol is part of the “fight or flight” response in our bodies. When cortisol is elevated you are vulnerable to cravings. Cravings can lead to excess food intake which contributes to weight gain.

What can you do to eliminate even a small amount of kitchen clutter? Is there one counter-top area or drawer that you can clear in the next 24-hours?

Can De-cluttering Slim You Better Than a Diet?

March 3, 2008 by clutterbusting 1 Comment

The October 2007 issue of First magazine featured an article, “De-cluttering can slim better than a diet.” The article references the latest weight-loss research revealing a fascinating link between eliminating household clutter and achieving weight-loss success.

The article discusses the link between bedroom clutter and kitchen clutter and excess weight. It is suggested that bedroom clutter disrupts sleep while kitchen clutter increases stress. Both a lack of sleep and an increased level of stress can contribute to overeating and, therefore, extra weight.

Are either of these areas cluttered in your home? Do you think there might be a connection between your excess weight and the clutter in your kitchen or bedroom?

Spring Clean Your Inbox

March 1, 2008 by clutterbusting 1 Comment

Did you get a chance to use the tips previously provided to clear your entry of mittens and scarves so you could enjoy a serene space for the remaining 18 days of winter? I hope you did because winter is still hanging on thanks to the significant snow fall yesterday. Even so I can’t help thinking about spring and, therefore, spring cleaning when I turn my calendar to March. So why not start with “spring cleaning” your inbox?

Is your inbox cluttered? Do you feel burdened by the number of emails you get daily? Are there unread emails lurking in your inbox?

For me a full inbox is a stress-generating liability and, unfortunately, I have let mine get a little out of hand lately. But relax…I have a few tips to help eliminate a cluttered inbox and keep it that way for good.

A Simple Step to a Stress-free Home

February 26, 2008 by clutterbusting 1 Comment

In the January/February 2008 issue of Health the article “Secrets to a Stress-free Home” proposes that our homes are our sanctuaries or they can be by following a few steps to set up a feeling of serenity. The article suggests that one way to a stress-free home is a calm entry way.

What does your entry way look like? Do you feel calm and relaxed when you enter your home? If your answer was no, you can take the first step to clearing your entry way of clutter by getting things out of sight. For example place gloves, hats and other outerwear in baskets or drawers.

You can set the stage for calm by spending 15 minutes on your entry way. Take that first step in the next 24 hours and breathe a sigh of relief.